Door closing device



May 11, 1948. F.-W.'-TETZMAN 2,441,455

boon CLOSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 50, 1944 3 Sheets-sheaf. 1

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' DOOR CLOSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 30, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

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' DOOR CLOSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 50, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR.

Maw mag/f3 Patented May 11, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y 2,441,455 2 DOOR CLOSING DEVICE 7 Fred W. Tetzman, Chicago, Ill. Application October 30, 1944, Serial Nb; 560,933 (01. 16-65 T i 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a door closing device so associated to a door and door frame as to control the closing action of the door to a given and desired effect and wherein slamming or banging is eliminated.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a novel device in which a resilient member, such as a spring, is coordinated with the reacting mechanical powers of the door and frame, and with associated cam means, the camming action of which is also stressed or counter-stressed under the stress of the aforesaid spring as to create a resultant quiet closing of the door.

The invention also may comprehend a connecting member, such as another spring, so related to the center line of the arm of the cam means as to assume a varied stress reactive between the door in its opening and. closing movements and the cam spring, and to shift the applied component force or power as to nearly balance but be subservient to a small preponderance of the stress effected by the cam means and the cam spring.

Other objects, advantages, capabilities, features and the like are comprehended by the invention as will later appear, and as are inherently possessed by the invention.

Referring briefly to the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the invention and a horizontal sectional view of a doorway with which the invention is applicable;

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation with a portion broken away and shown in section of the invention; r

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and showing the door in partly opened position;

' Fig. 4 is a rear view of the invention with parts shown in a stage of operation and as taken in planes represented by line4-4 in Fig. 3 of the drawings; I f

Fig. 5 is an exploded sectionalvie'w of part of the invention and as taken in a plane represented by linei5-5 in Fig. 6 of the drawings;

Fig; 6 is a stepped planview taken in planes represented by line 6-6 in Fig 5 of the drawings. Referring more in detail to the drawings, the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention is shown in connection with a door I in a doorway having sides 2 and 3, these sides being provided with stops or jambs 4 and 5 and having a suitable threshold 6. The door is hinged to the part 5 by way of suitable hinges 8.' I

Attached or suitably securedito the side 3, as to the jamb 5 thereof, isa'support 9 which may be in the formof a bracket and-which comprises an upright leg or-post l0 suitably firmly connected to the jamb 5, as shown in Fig. 1, and a top piece or shelf l l suitably fixed at an end thereof to the upper end of the leg orpost It, and this top piece or shelf ll may be braced by a suitable brace member 12 suitably secured, as by welding, at its ends tojthe leg l0 and the top piece ll. These parts I0, I I and i2 may be made of metal or other suitable material which is strong and stiff, and the parts H! and H may be of channel shape or form.

The invention comprehends the provision of a pair of counter-part cam members l3 and i l of generally circular or annular form or shape and with counter-part opposed cam surfaces or races of undulated form or wave shaped so that in a normal position or relation the cam [3 will have a cam lobe or crest l5 matching or meshing with a cam dwell or trough l6 provided in or on the cam l4, and the cam [4 will have a cam lobe or crest l1 matching or meshing with a cam dwell or trough l8 provided in or on the cam l3, as shown in Fig. 2. These dwells and lobes are preferably distributed around the cams in any number desired so that normally there are diametrically opposed corresponding lobes and diametrically opposed corresponding dwells.

The lower cam member I3 is preferably secured, as by welding or. otherwise to the free end portion Ill-of the top piece or shelf l I and is provided with a suitable aperture or hole, as also is the shelf portion ill, for the upward extension therethrough of a bolt or stud 20 having a head 2i in thrust engagement with the lower side of the shelf portion l9. The upper cam I4 is coaxial with the cam l3 and also has a hole or aperture for the extension therethrough of the bolt or stud 20 and to .permitthe rotation of the cam l4 about the axis of the bolt or stud 20.

The upper end of the stud 20 is preferably provided with threads 22 for engagement therewith of a binding nut-23 and a lock nut 24. Below the nut 23 is a suitable thrust plate or washer 25. In the upper portion of the stud 20 is provided a longitudinal'slot 26 for the anchoring therein of an end portion 21 of a coil spring 28 which is interposed between the thrust plate or washer 25 and the cam 14; The washer 25 acts as an adjustable memberfor the spring 28, and the nut 23 acts as a regulating member for the force or stress imposed by the spring 28 on the cam 14, in accordance with the degree of adjustment of the nut 23 on the threaded portion 22 of the stud, 2|]. 7

Fixed toand extending radially from the cam I4 is aniarm 29 which has at or near its end an aperture 39 in which is passed or hooked an end 3i of a coil spring 32 which has its other end 33 suitably connected to or hooked into a fastening 34, as a screw eye, hook, or the like secured to the door I. 5

The spring 28 has at its lower end an extension or anchor tail part 35 which extends part-way along the arm 29 and has an end hook or the like 36 adapted to catch or extend selectivelyand adjustably into any one of several apertures or holes 31 arranged in the arm 29 and concentric to the axis of the stud 20 and the cam I4.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 it will be observed" that the cams may be made of sheet metal, and stamped to form troughlike central web portions 38 and 39 and perimetral annular portions having 9 an undulated or wave form to provide-forthe lobes and dwells of the cams. The bracket part !9 may be secured as by welding to web: 38 and the arm 29 may be secured to the web 39 also by means of weldingor the like.-

Thespring. 28 has at least a double function; one offering a torsional resistance or reaction; as the arm 29 is turned about theaxis-of thelspring 28 andthe stud 20 by way of the anchor part 135 5 hooked to the. arm 29 and 'by way'of theanch-or part 2'3 extending through the :slot '26.;01 the stud, 20; and .the votherofieringa compression resistance or reaction against the cam l4 and the urge of the lobes or crests H of the cam 14 to rideup; 30 theslopes of .the lobes or.crests l5;0f,the:cam. 13 as the arm 29 isturnedtabout thegaxis of the stud 28. r

In use and operation; and with-the parts in the relations showninFig. ,1, the normalstress of the spring 32:15 atiitsminimum; the-torsional reactive stressof the springgZB alsois. at its vmini mum; and by reason :of the camlobes and dwells being in mesh or normal neutrality, the reactive resistance is nil. By reason of the center line of 40- the spring 32 and the center line: ofthe arm .29; being at a small angle the componentf-orce'ofthe spring 32 upon initial opening of the :door willbe smallest. Hence, upon starting openingbfthe door I the spring 32-Will be strained to:the point when its augmented stresswillstart turning the arm 29 and cam 1-4. As this turning progresses the angle between the center lines of the spring a 32 and arm 29 will widen; shifting the component force on the arm 29 progressively towardthenormal or right angle relation to the centerline of" the arm 23 whereby there is lesserneoessary an;- piied stress by the spring 323 on .the; arm 29;. but coordinately the torsional resistance of thev spring 28" increases to contribute a counter balancing force or stress, and also the lobes or crestssl'! of J the cam 14 start to ride and .do ride up. the slopes of the lobes or crests l5 of the cam liagainstthe compressible resistance-or counterforce'of the spring 723, so that this resistance together with the counterbalancing torsional reactive *stress. of the sprin 28'will about equal the stress-.ofthe spring 32 in its varying angular relations with or to thegcenter line-0f the'arm' 29. SeegFjighi which shows the ridingof the 'crests of the d pper cam-1 upon the crests of the lower cam: Theflcamprofile portions formed by the lobes on the cam mem bers l3 and Id are so formedas toidiminish .the rate of relative axial movement of:'the cams per unit of relative rotative movement as such rela-.

tive rotation occurs'in' one direction; namely, the direction incurred by rotation of the cam member. [4 pursuant to swinging of the door from. the closed position toward thewide open: position.

This is apparent fromcomparingFigs. 2;.and 4, 75.

counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, by the counterclockwise swinging door. When closing thedoor the same substantial balance is present so that the door will close without slamming or banging. To eliect the necessary small amount otpredominance of. the forces or stresses for automatic returning or closing movement of the door Lthe end 35 of the spring 28 may be selectively and adjustably hooked into one of the holes 31,- depending. upon. the-mechanical ease or impedance-of-the hinging action of the door I 7 While I have "herein described and upon the drawings shown an-illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but comprehends other structures, details, arrangements of parts, features and the like, without departing from the spirit of theiinventionz, 7

Having thus disclosed the invention,- I claim:

I. In a-doorclosing device-having cams providedwith counter-part camming surface portions and of which one of the cams is for-com nection with the doorand theother of said cams is forconnection withja door frame aboutsaid door, a spring connected to one of said cams and pressin -against the other of said: cams to resiliently press; the camming surface portions of said ;cams together and to resiliently resist andyield-to the relativemovement of said camming surface-portions, andsaid spring being also connectedito the '-other of saidcamsto afford "a tor-- sional resilient stress to the relative movement ofsaidcamsnf 2. In adevice of the character disclosed-and which has a door and a door frame; a door closing device having cams provided with counterpart camming surface portions and of which one of :the cams isconnected to the door and the other of said cams is. connected to the door frame, a spring connected to one-ofsaid. camsand pressing againstthe other-of said cams to resiliently press the camming surface portions of said cams together and to resiliently resist and yield to the-relative movement of said camming;

surface portions, and said spring being also connected to the otherv of 'said cams .to' afford'a torsional resilient stress to the relative movement of said cams, said connection to said door frame comprising a support secured'to-the door frame, andsaidi-other of said camsbeing secured to saidisupport, said support bein inthe formof-a bracket havinga leg secured tothe doorframe and having a shelf-partial supportine'said,otherofsaidcams.

3. In-a door closing device having cams providedwith counter-part camming surface portionsand of =which' oneof thecams isfor connection; witlrthe door and the other of said cams is for connection. with a. door frame about said door, a spring connected 7 to one of said camsand pressing against therother of said cams to resiliently press-the camming surface portions of said camstogethenandto resiliently resist and yield: to V the relative movement of said camming surface portions, and said spring being also connected to the other of said cams to afford a torsional resilient stress to the relative movement of said cams, said other of said cams having a stud fixed thereto, and said one of said cams having an opening for the extension thereth'rough of said stud, said spring being connected at an end thereof to said stud and at the other end thereof to said one of said cams.

4. In a closing device for a door swingable to and from a closed position with respect to a portal within a door frame, relatively rotatable cams having intermeshed axially projecting profile portions cooperable to cause relative axial movement of such cams in one direction pursuant to such relative rotation in one direction, a helical spring exerting a force between said cams to urge them in the opposite axial direction and also being connected with said cams to tortionally urge relative rotation thereof in the opposite direction, and means for connecting said cams respectively with said door and door frame for causing such relative rotation of the cams in said one direction pursuant to the door being opened, and said cam profile portions being of a contour to diminish the rate of relative axial movement of the cams per unit of relative rotative movement as such relative rotation occurs in the one direction.

5. In a closing device for a door structure swingable to and from a closed position with respect to a portal within a door frame structure, relatively rotatable cams having intermeshed axially projecting profile portions cooperable to cause relative axial movement of such cams in one direction pursuant to such relative rotation in one direction, a helical spring exerting a force between said cams to urge them in the opposite axial direction and also being connected with said cams to tortionally urge relative rotation thereof in the opposite direction, means for anchoring one of said cams to one of said structures, the other of said cams having a point of attachment at which force is applicable to rotate such cam relatively to the anchored cam, a stretchable spring for distension and connection between said point of attachment and a point of attachment on the other of said structures so located that such spring is further distended and caused to exert such rotating force to said other cam member as the door structure is swung open.

6. In a closing device for a door structure movable to and from a closed position with respect to a portal within a door frame structure and normally urged into the closed position by an elongatable spring connected at a point of attachment to one or said structures; a pivotable member pivotally mounted upon the other of said structures and having an anchorage point of attachment for the other end of said spring, said pivotable member being pivoted in one direction to cause displacement of said anchorage point of attachment toward the first point of attachment,

a spring urging said pivotable member to pivot in the opposite direction, and cam means cooperable with the last-named spring to resist pivotal movement of the pivotable member in said one direction and to cause the combined resistance of the spring and cam means to such rotation to increase at a decelerated rate as said member is pivoted in the one direction.

FRED w. TETZMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 474,268 Sidenstricker May 3, 1892 490,032 Montgomery Jan. 1'7, 1893 1,688,428 Morgan Oct. 23, 1923 

